13. Your Kids Mental Health: How To Help Your Family Through The Hard Times

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Isn’t it crazy to think it has almost been one year since the world hit the pause button?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Much like the 911 attack, it seems like everyone remembers the exact moment when the country went on lockdown. In great detail, you could probably describe where you were, what you were doing, who you were with, and how it felt. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This week in the Smith house we have been thinking a lot about mental health.  Not just for us as a couple, but for our kids too. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recently, we came across a study that surveyed 350 children and they found that 70% percent of the children had experienced a deterioration of their mental health. This is not surprising with all of the changes that kids were thrust into in such a short amount of time. Think about it. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">No in person school, no more hanging out with friends, no more sports, birthday parties, shopping in an actual store. Not to mention trying to balance the feeling of missing grandparents,  but knowing that staying away is how to keep them safe. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sure, you could say kids had it easy because they aren’t worried about the market crash or the economy, but when you look at it from their perspective; their whole world changed and turned upside down. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our point is, mental health and learning how to become resilient is a family affair. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In today’s episode, we want to share with you the ways we are intentionally creating a family culture where everyone can talk about their thoughts, identify specific feelings, and emotions without fear of judgment. Plus, learn how to help each other, and kids keep a “can-do” attitude despite what the current circumstances may be.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As we say in our house, Smiths do hard t